Mohammed Naporo Parara argues that allowing the six incumbent MPs to face internal contests could drain party resources and undermine the NPP’s chances of reclaiming power in the 2028 general elections.

A former Mion Constituency Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mohammed Naporo Parara, has urged the party’s national and regional leadership to consider protecting six incumbent Members of Parliament in the Northern Region from competitive parliamentary primaries ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Mr. Parara, who is also a former Northern Regional Youth Organiser aspirant and Chairman of Majority Multimedia Limited, described the prospect of the six MPs contesting internal primaries as potentially damaging to the party’s electoral fortunes, arguing that their experience and performance make them valuable assets to the NPP.

In a statement, he maintained that the party was not operating under normal political circumstances and needed to adopt bold strategic measures to preserve its existing parliamentary seats while concentrating resources on constituencies it lost in the 2024 general elections.

The six MPs he identified are Habib Iddrisu of Tolon, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam of Karaga, Hajia Fatahiya Abdul-Aziz of Savelugu, Dominic Nitiwul of Bimbilla, Matthew Nyindam of Kpandai and Hassan Tampuli of Gushegu.

According to Mr. Parara, the ability of the six lawmakers to retain their seats following the intense 2024 general elections demonstrates their political strength, constituency appeal and capacity to compete in future elections.

He argued that subjecting them to potentially expensive internal contests could divert financial and organisational resources that the party could otherwise channel into strengthening its grassroots structures and reclaiming lost parliamentary seats.

He also pointed to support for small-business owners, the provision of logistics to polling station executives and initiatives aimed at identifying and developing the talents of young people.

According to him, some lawmakers have also supported local media and entertainment initiatives, including the establishment of media houses to nurture aspiring journalists and the provision of sound systems and stages for musicians.

Mr. Parara maintained that such interventions demonstrate a more direct approach to constituency engagement and should inform the party’s decisions about retaining its incumbent parliamentary candidates.

He further praised the six MPs for their contributions to parliamentary business as members of the Minority Caucus, arguing that their experience and representation should not be discarded without careful consideration.

Mr. Parara specifically appealed to the NPP’s National Chairman, John Boadu, Northern Regional Chairman Baantima Samba and the party’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to take what he described as a bold decision to safeguard the six parliamentary seats.

He urged the leadership to prioritise retaining constituencies currently held by the party while directing greater attention and resources towards constituencies lost in 2024.

He expressed confidence that the NPP could improve its parliamentary performance and compete effectively in the 2028 general elections, but cautioned that internal disagreements and poorly managed parliamentary primaries could weaken that prospect.

Mr. Parara concluded that the party must carefully assess the electoral strength, performance and prospects of its incumbent MPs before making decisions about candidate selection.

His appeal adds to the debate over how the NPP should balance internal democratic competition with electoral strategy as it prepares for the next general elections.

The proposal to shield incumbent MPs from competitive primaries, however, raises questions about candidate selection, the aspirations of other party members and the need to balance electoral calculations with internal party democracy.

Report By: Robicon Mornahson